Wars should be fought by aging leaders in underwear. And political races should be decided by the best miler. Say what? That second idea actually comes from Rep. Ralph Hall of Texas, at 87 the oldest member of Congress. According to this story in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Republican Hall is proud of his fitness: “I run two miles every morning,” he says. “I’m in better shape than [opponents] are. I don’t think age has anything to do with it.” Hall told the paper that he has a standing challenge to his rivals to run a mile around the track — and the loser will withdraw from the election. “No one’s ever taken me up on it,” he said. Maybe Jim Ryun should move down to Texas.

Here’s the story, in case the link goes belly up:

By Maria Recio
Star-Telegram Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON — At 87, Rep. Ralph Hall, R-Rockwall, is the oldest member of the House and Senate — and proud of it.

It’s a title he earned after the death of Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., 92, in June.

Not that Hall got much deferential treatment this year.

He had to take down five challengers in the GOP primary in March and has a Democrat and a Libertarian running against him in November.

But Hall, whose easygoing appearance disguises a fierce competitive nature, appears relaxed as he looks to a likely victory in the midterm elections after 30 years in the House.

“I’m the oldest guy on the Hill and I throw a little hissy fit if I don’t get what I want,” Hall, a well-known quipster, said in an interview.

“I’m working on my campaign,” he said, speaking from Rockwall. “I had five opponents in the primary and I spent $1 million” — a huge sum compared with other years. Tea Party enthusiasts challenged the incumbent, a well-known conservative who is popular in his district.

Asked about his opponents making his age an issue in the primary or general elections, Hall said, “They all do.”

But to him, it’s bogus.

“I run two miles every morning. I’m in better shape than they are. I don’t think age has anything to do with it.”

Hall said that he has a standing challenge to his opponents to run a mile around the track and the loser will withdraw from the election. “No one’s ever taken me up on it,” he said.

A Democrat until 2004 — when mid-decade redistricting made his district unwinnable for a Democrat, even a conservative one — Hall has been the ranking member of the House Science Committee as both a Democrat and a Republican during this decade. It was former Speaker Jim Wright, D-Fort Worth, who put him on the panel in 1980.

If the GOP wins control of the House, he will finally become chairman.

“I really hope to be back in the majority,” said Hall, who, in addition to bolstering NASA at the committee level wants to make the expiring Bush administration tax cuts permanent. He also wants to reconsider the new healthcare law.

As dean of the Texas delegation, Hall is revered by both sides.

“We are very, very close friends,” said Rep. Solomon Ortiz, D-Corpus Christi, who was first elected to Congress two years after Hall in 1982. “We work together sometimes on NASA issues. As a Texan, he feels the same way we do — we vote together to provide jobs.” As for the party switch: “The Democrats feel he is one of us. He still may be on loan to the Republicans.”

Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, who serves with Hall on the science panel, called him “a wonderful individual.”

“He gets along with everyone — Republicans and Democrats and independents. He has nobody that doesn’t consider him a friend.” Another member of the committee, Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, said, “Ralph is probably the most well-liked member of Congress.” As for the age issue, the 48-year-old McCaul said, “even I have trouble keeping up with him.”

McCaul said that Hall likes to tease Science Committee Chairman Bart Gordon, D-Tenn., by saying that “if it wasn’t for Tennessee, there wouldn’t be an Alamo” since so many of the Texas troops, like Davey Crockett, came from the Volunteer State. But then, Hall would add, “If there was a back door to the Alamo, you wouldn’t have had a Texas.”

McCaul said that having Hall as chairman “would be a tremendous asset to Texas” because of the influence he would have over NASA funding, and research and development funds for Texas universities.

Hall is also a contender to lead the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where ranking Rep. Joe Barton, R-Arlington, is bumping up against GOP rules limiting the top Republican to three terms, or six years. Hall, however, prefers the science panel and said of the energy post, “I probably ought to make a run for it but I’m not going to.”

Hall has been close to both President George W. Bush and his father, President George H.W. Bush. As for becoming a Republican, Hall said, “I should’ve been a long time ago.”

There’s no talk of retiring if he wins this term and serves a term as chairman. Hall jokes that he doesn’t know what else he would do — other than be a greeter at Wal-Mart. “I don’t have another job anywhere,” he said. As for Wal-Mart, “They’d say I was too young.”

Maria Recio is the Star-Telegram’s Washington bureau chief. (202) 383 6103